NOOB's guide to first purchases... my first 48 hours with BLF, $250 dollars poorer and happy for it

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Overall
some how found this site looking for special flashlights, best move ever. BLF is beyond words, what a great community, thx for all the help to all who posted and pm’ed me, i put this together b/c i felt compelled by all the generosity. also, gearbest is my new amazon. so although it looks like lots of info it’s nothing over the top. i should now have most lights i need for most hunting and misc applications. amped. god bless engineers.

key take aways:
go to “group purchase” forum, find light you want, and follow instructions, you’ll probably get a code that you can apply to gearbest and buy at fraction of price
listen to the experts, they provide clarity in the swamp
stats are guides but not paramount, go with proven vs. better stats
take my advice with a grain of salt

​​Spotlight
​BEST VALUE SPOTLIGHT - 700 meter or more beam
​this was most important purchase, and i ended up with this light. under powered compared to others i looked at, but purchased at fraction of price and the most respected at blf gave thumbs up.​

​​Olight M3XS - UT Javelot Cree XP - L Waterproof Extended-range 18650​
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_182292.html
So this has 1000 meter range, comes highly recommended among experts. Price through group buy, INSANELY low considering. Can’t wait, perfect for looking at game at night in fields etc.​ Not giving price b/c of forum rules.

​​​​Hunting Light

​Ok, almost went with the Nitecore hunting kits, but ended up with Olight b/c was able to piece all together for a fraction of the price and feel quality is equal.​

Olight M22 Torch Cree XM - L2 950lm 4 - Mode White Light Waterproof LED Flashlight
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_23154.html
sweet light, and found 50% discount, $45! has accessories etc.

Tru-Glo TG85B Bow Picatinny Accessory Mount Stabilizer
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4J7QZQ/ref=pe_492420_33133920_TE_slc_n_id
this is to mount the flashlight onto my bow

Green and red filters
http://www.gearbest.com/diy-parts-and-tools/pp_195416.html
http://www.gearbest.com/diy-parts-and-tools/pp_195414.html

Olight Rm22 Tactical Remote Switch

Olight M Series Offset Mount M Series Flashlight Offset Gun Mount
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00571UP66?psc=1&redirect=true&ref\_=ox_sc_act_title_1&smid=A3DF7WSP6NOKLR

​​Flounder Gigging
​BEST FLOUNDER GIGGING LIGHTS - this is my last post... for now
Not there yet but the recommendations sound solid.

Headlamp​
​https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/34651​
looking for something both flood and throw. ended up finding multiple that were so cheap i just went for it.

Fenix HL55 Cree XM L2 T6 Waterproof LED Headlight - NEUTRAL WHITE LIGHT
​http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_162805.html​
​this was no my first choice, but found it for $45 on Gearbest so I had to scrap other plans but i don’t see how i’m going to regret this.

Cree XML T6 1600Lm 3 Modes Zooming LED Headlight Bicycle Lamp
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_187298.html​
1600 lumenwaterproof headlamp for $11 dollars? if it doesn’t work i’ll regift it someone.

UltraFire Cree XM - L2 5 - Mode 1000lm Waterproof
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_5499.html
$15, i’m such a sucker, can someone figure out how much i’ve spent

​​Batteries
​https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/34665​
so didn’t put much effort in, but the best recommendation was go with a well know manufacturer and buy a popular line.​ Panasonic NCR18650PF, i should have gone with those.

2 Samsung INR18650-25R 18650 2500mAh 3.6v Rechargeable Flat Top Batteries
​Amazon.com
​went with something proven, although i probably should have bought the 3000 mAh panasonics. note, not protected.
​
NiteCore -i4-V2014 NEW 2014
​Amazon.com
​ordered 2​

​​Miscellaneous
​so along the way i found some great deals so i went for it.​

Nitecore EA11 Cree XM L2 U2 Outdoor LED Flashlight ( 900Lm 8 Modes 1 x AA / 14500 Battery ) - BLACK BLACK 125967501
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_170238.html
Bought this for general use. Great light, was part of group buy and spectacular price. Will use around house, deer stand / early am / late pm hunts.

​Powerful 819 5mw 532nm Green Laser Pen​
​http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_113493.html
why not lol

CREE XPE Q5 600 Lumens
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_172290.html​
​$2.50 for a 700 lumen flashlight that takes AA batteries? sweet xmas present for fools

SK68 Cree XPE - Q5 400LM
http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_193536.html​
​I liked the colors and so cheap who cares.

Ultrafire 1300Lm CREE XM-L T6 C8 LED Torch Flashlight + Remote Pressure Switch
​Amazon.com
​it was $12, what is going on?

2

Holy crap.

.
.
You’ve spent more in a few days than I have in the last 2 years.

3

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

4

lol, wrathbringer27, this is partially your fault hahahahaha

5

well you were asking for recommendations so I did but I didn’t think you’re spending it in one shot!

6

just added up, actually more like $240

7

That is just a deposit The fun is just beginning for you!

8

Still more than I’ve spent this year

9

http://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_172292.html

The silver one and the gold are 3 mode high low strobe .... the black ones are just one mode .great little lights that get beter if you de-dome and cut / file down the sliding head just a bit .. it opens up the flood a lot . a couple simple 3 minute mods that make it a lil nicer .. i still like these better than the sk68's

great battery too Samsung 25r is a seriously good first battery choice

10

Well you have to get the group buy lights then if you are going to spend that much on lights and blame BLF, check out the A6, D80 and X6 special copper/stainless steel group buys and sign up :wink:

11

@boaz good to hear, I bought like 5 of them. Also Boaz pm most of advice I followed, thx a million, u are expert.

@b42 done, done done. Total spent now at $380 lol.

12

I didn't know I should have been talking you down from the ledge

13

Good purchases you made there but don’t rush it with the cheapo lights!

Because you might end up with lots of flashlight with outdated emitters in a couple of months.

14

Well, it’s not like the flashlight stops working, because a new emitter comes out with 10% better stats, which you can still swap at any time :slight_smile:

15

Welcome, and sorry for the new addiction!

Try to keep in mind that the those generic lights like Ultrafire and “Cree Q5” have specs which are entirely imaginary. The XP-E emitter can’t put out anywhere near 600 lumens, and with a 1xAA power source it’ll be far less. My SK-68 clocks in at 72 lumens, not 400.

You might have figured this out already, but if you want the really good stuff (mostly parts, but also some good lights), go to RMM’s store: http://mtnelectronics.com/

Or for good deals on nice retail brands, try Illumn: http://illumn.com/

Depends on if you’re more interesting in building what you want or buying already-completed products.

16

Good to see someone new do their research and spending smartly. Too much is lost ofn cheapie torches that are in many cases a waste of money.